We’re heading into winter now – and in many areas, that means it’s sweater weather. While many people love pulling their cozy sweaters out of storage, this time of year can present particular challenges for those living with chronic skin conditions. Not only does the drier air often lead to skin flares, but some people also experience skin irritation from their winter clothes.
While some sweaters can definitely trigger skin flares, it’s certainly possible to find ones that will keep you warm while also being skin-friendly. What should you look for in a sweater? How can you choose the ones that are least likely to irritate your skin?
What kind of sweater is most skin-friendly?
The first thing to look at is the type of fibers that your sweaters are made out of. Synthetic fibers, like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, can sometimes lead to skin irritation. One reason is because they don’t allow the skin to breathe well, so they tend to trap moisture, heat, and even allergens against your skin. There are also a lot of chemicals used in the manufacture of these types of fabrics, and some of these can cause skin irritation.
In general, natural fibers will tend to be less irritating to your skin than synthetic ones. Some skin-friendly choices include cotton and bamboo fibers. These fibers allow your skin to breathe, creating a healthier skin environment. There are also less chemicals used in the manufacture of these fabrics. Whenever possible, if you can purchase 100% organic sweaters, this will further decrease the chances that you’ll be exposed to chemicals that can cause irritation.
Although most natural fibers are skin-friendly, wool is generally an exception. Even though it’s a natural fiber, wool commonly causes itching and irritation of skin. This is largely because the fibers used to make wool are often coarse, and these fibers typically rub on the skin, which can trigger a skin flare in those living with chronic skin conditions.
Wool is a great fabric for the winter, because it keeps you very warm – but it’s often not very skin-friendly. If you have a wool sweater that you love, try wearing a long-sleeved cotton turtleneck under it so that it doesn’t irritate your skin as much. Superfine wool uses very fine yarn that’s less likely to cause irritation, so this may be less likely to trigger a skin flare. If you’re interested in purchasing a wool sweater, look for the finest possible wool – meaning that the fibers used to make the yarn are smaller, so that the resulting yarn is softer.
In general, you want to choose a sweater that feels soft when you touch it. If it feels a bit scratchy, chances are that it will irritate your skin and trigger a skin flare when you wear it.
Watch out for harmful chemicals
Another thing that’s important is to watch out for harmful chemicals in your sweater. Manufacturers may use chemicals during the manufacturing process. Chemicals may be applied to sweaters to improve their durability and make them feel softer in the store. Many of these chemicals can cause skin reactions, so it’s very important to wash your sweater before you wear it for the first time. (To ensure that your laundry process won’t lead to skin flares, make sure your laundry detergent is free of dyes and fragrances, and don’t use fabric softener.)
There are also certain clothing dyes that can cause contact allergies. The most common culprit are dark blue dyes used on synthetic fabrics (like nylon and polyester). If you’re choosing natural fibers like cotton and bamboo, you’re less likely to encounter these dyes, but it’s still possible. Even after washing many times, a sweater can still contain enough of the dye to affect your skin. This is something to watch out for if you often experience a skin flare after wearing a certain sweater. To avoid it, you can choose sweaters that are natural in color (meaning that they haven’t been dyed), or that are dyed with natural dyes that come from plants rather than synthetic dyes. Lighter-colored sweaters are also less likely to cause this issue than darker or vibrant-colored sweaters.
Support on your skin health journey
If you’re living with a chronic skin condition, then you know how many challenges can crop up in your daily life – from choosing sweaters to maintaining your mental health. It can be very helpful to have support along the way. Inside Mind Gut Skin Academy, I offer you my entire roadmap to great skin health. There are also several lovely MGS Academy communities, where you can connect with other women who are on a similar journey. They can offer you tips and advice, and also cheer you on and keep you motivated along your path.
Find yourself some skin-friendly sweaters, and enjoy getting cozy this winter!
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